Wedding Jokes

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Harusi na Michango: Who Pays for What?

The topic of money and who pays for the wedding is one of the questions most
commonly asked in the early stages of wedding planning. These days the
division of who pays for what has evolved and changed to adapt to what fits
each couple, and we think it’s about time. This article is meant to
address the question of who traditionally pays for what. We’re giving you
this list as a starting point, but strongly encourage you to take this list and
make it work for you!

Groom’s Financial Responsibilities:

• Engagement and wedding ring for the bride
• The wedding rings, wedding dresses and accessories for both of you.

* Sometimes, dresses for your Bride maid of honour and a Best man (Depends on your negotiations)
• A wedding gift for your Bride

• A gift for your parents
• Medical exam for both of you
• Hair, makeup and beauty treatments on the wedding day.

Family of the Groom's Financial Responsibilities:
• Save the Date announcements and Wedding Invitations
• Engagement party
• Wedding Planner
• A gift for the bride and groom
• Wedding dress & all of your accessories
• Wedding attire for all of the bride’s family
• Lunch/brunch for you and your bridesmaids on the wedding day
• Bridesmaid’s bouquets
• Personal flowers (corsages) for all grandmothers
• Ceremony site rental and associated fees
• Other ceremony décor

A Wedding Cake

• Reception beverages
• Groom’s cake
• Programs for the ceremony
• Rentals for the ceremony and reception
• Floral arrangements for the ceremony and reception
• Music for the ceremony and reception
• Reception location rental fees
• Food for the reception
• Reception floral arrangements
• Other reception decor
• Photographer
• Videographer
• Wedding cake
• Favors
• Transportation for you, the bride & her family, your wedding party and your family on the
day of the wedding
• Gratuities for any vendors above
• Post-wedding brunch

Again, none of this is set in stone, but it gives you an idea of where to
begin. Things to keep in mind when tailoring this list to fit you:

• The financial situation of each party involved; if you’re in a
position to shoulder more financial responsibility to make it easier for
someone else, do it.
• More contribution means more involvement: the more one party is
footing of the overall bill, the more influence they should have in the
decision making process
• Division of the guests: if his parents give you a guest list that
makes up half of your entire guest list, it’s okay to ask them to contribute
more
• Your age and position in life: if you’re getting married right out of
college, it seems more practical and acceptable for your folks to pay for the
majority of the wedding. However, if you’re in your mid-thirties, have a
career and mortgage of your own, you should foot a larger portion of the cost
of the wedding

What’s the best approach to dividing up responsibilities? Talk to your
honey first, then call a meeting (kikao na wanakamati) where all contribution parties are present,
and talk through it; it’s better for everyone to be clear and on the same page
from the start, and it will save you costs along the
way!